Bengaluru: The House Committee report on the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMIC) tabled in the Assembly recommended the state government order to a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate.
The committee led by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T B Jayachandra has prepared the report, which found the violation of 24 out of 30 guidelines laid down in the original framework of the agreement entered into between the state government and Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE).
The committee had held 27 meetings and 10 informal meetings before preparing a 392-page report on the violation of guidelines laid down in the original framework of the agreement. The committee found NICE having made transactions worth Rs 4956 Crore without any progress on the development of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project except in the vicinity of Bengaluru. The committee also found no progress in the project despite its commencement 19 years ago.
According to reliable sources, the House Committee has found that although the government had agreed to lease 6,000 acres at the rate of Rs 10 per acre per year to the company, it demanded an outright sale deed in its favour and the land was transferred to it without even charging a stamp duty.
It said the NICE later mortgaged the land with a private bank and raised Rs 150 crore. Sources say the committee has also found that NICE began stone quarrying without seeking permission from the government and pointed out that even if a normal royalty of Rs 30 per tonne was received from it for the quarrying, the state would have earned Rs 270 Crore.
The NICE is said to have sold large tracts of land allotted to it and begun construction of apartments and townships without government permission.
The committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra that was formed to look into the alleged violations of the guidelines, had submitted the report to Speaker K B Koliwad last week. The 11-member committee was constituted in September 2014 to look into the alleged violations of the guidelines laid down in the original framework of the agreement entered into between the state government and the NICE.
Rs 3696 crore for Bengaluru-Mysuru highway
The state government plans to develop Bengaluru-Mysuru highway into eight lanes from the existing four lanes to ease traffic congestion, according to Public Works Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa.
Replying to a query from MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Minister Mahadevappa said the government planned to develop Bengaluru-Mysuru highway at an estimated cost of Rs 3696 crore. “The process of floating tenders to invite the bidders will begin as soon as the Central Government gives its nod to the project. Compensation will be given to those farmers who lose their land for the project,’’ the minister said.
The minister said around 448 hectares of land would be required for the project and the government had allocated Rs 2200 crore for the acquisition of the required land.
